Machine for cutting soles



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. M. STIGKNEY'.

MACHINE POR CUTTING SOLES, sw. No. 446,555. Patented Feb. 17, 1891i.

WQESEES. i QJEQDI@ i www 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. M. STIGKNEY. MACHINE FOR CUTTING SOLES, am.

Patnted Peb. 17,1891.

AIIIVI 1||l il rr I l l 11 Egg,

A www? me Noms Parana co., Puo

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. MSTICKNEY.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SOLES, 650.

115.446,555. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

a o l Wim E 5 5 E 5.

(No Model.) l 5 sheets-sheen 4. A* M. STIGKNEY. MACHINE FOR CUTTING SOLES, ne. No. 446,555- Patented Feb. 17,1891.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5. A. 1/1. STICKNEY. MACHINE FOR CUTTING SOLES, 6:0.

Patented Feb. 17,1891.

(No Mogel.)

W1 E55 E5.

ivrrnn Sterns Paritair Ormea ALLISON M. STICKN EY, OF MEDFORD,ASSIGNOR TO THE W'ELLMAN SOLE CUTTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING SOLES, 84,0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,555, dated February 17, 1891.

Application filed November 6, 1890A Serial No. 370,566. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLIsoN Monnis Stick- NEY, of Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Machine for Cutting Soles and other Forms, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part hereof, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of the upper portion of a machine embodying all the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, for clearness on line et 4 of Fig. 3, the knife-block being in the plane ot' the section and the sprocket-chain not shown. Figs. 5 and (5 are elevations oi' the knife-block detached. Fig. 7 isa section, on a larger scale, on line 7 7 of Fig. l.

My invention relates t0 the cutting of soles or the like; and it consists, mainly, in a new contrivance for connecting the knife with the chain or the like, by which the knife is moved about the pattern.

In the drawings, A represents a stud in the overhanging part of the frame, and B a table on which the leather or other material is placed. The stud A carries the pattern-plate a, and the material a" is clamped between the table B and pattern a. In cutting rubber and some other materials a cutting-plate a," is usually interposed between the table B and material a. While either may move toward the other, I prefer to move the stud A toward table Il by means of t-readle-lever a', lever a2, and connecting-rod a3, and to use an adjusting-stop d, which is so set that when thematerial is clamped the point of the cuttingedge of the knife will be in the proper relation with the surface of the table 0r cuttingplate so.

A chain D or its equivalent, arranged on sprocket-wheels CZ d', one of which is driven by power, as indicated in Fig. 4, is one wellknown means for giving a knife-holdera m0- tion in a closed or endless path, and I have shown that driver in the drawings, although, as will be clear, any analogous device may be used, for my invention does not relate, prmarily, to that device, (although one feature ot' my invention is an improved device of that kind, as fully explained bel0w,) but consists in the combination of the knife-holder with a device for giving it a motion ina closed path by means of three arms, one of which f is journaled on the main stud A, the second f, journaled to f and carries the knife-block, while the third f2 connects arm f with the chain D or its equivalent. By this devicethe three arms f f fg-the knifeblock is not only compelled to travel about the form 0r pattern plate a, but is also (by the aid of a spring or guide-roll or the like, or by the bevel of the knife and stiffness of the stock) held in close contact with the guiding-edge of the patternplate, and the contour of the pattern-plate a lnay differ far more widely from the closed path in which any point of chain D travels than is practical in any other machine of this class known to me.

In Fig. t the main stud A and the arms f f are shown full size. The arm f is a frame connected to stud A by hubs, which are kept in place by the collars f4. The arms ff are connected by the pin f5, and the pin f connects f2 and f. The knife 7o is clamped by set-screw 7o', vand the knife-block K has a tang in line with pin f. The knife-block swivels on its tang. The otherend of arm f2 is connected to chain D, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 7, although, as will be clear, it may be attached in any convenient way to the mechanism for giving' it a motion in a closed path.

The form a, instead of being connected rigidly to stud A, is mounted upon an auxiliary stud a5, which is socketed in stud A, but prevented from turning in its socket by pins a, passing through the lower collar f4, fast to stud a. It is backed up by spring a?, in order that it may yield slightly to suit different thicknesses of stock, for, as before intimated, the distance between the lower end of studA and the surface of table B is regulated'by stop at, and stop (tL is so adjusted as to bring the point of knife 7o into contact with table B. It results that as form ce and table B are brought together to clamp the stock between them t'orm a is slightly moved back against the stress of spring a7, while the point of the knife 7c penetrates the stock. This is one ot IOO the features of my invention of much practical value, for heretofore in all machines of this class known to me the knife projected always the same distance beyond the clamping-surface of the form, while in my machine the form yields as it clamps the stock, and one advantage of this is that the knife projects more or less, accordingto the thickness of the stock.

Another feature of my invention is an improved device for driving the knife-holder, and this improvement consists in an inward curve of the chain at both sides of the shank, as clearly shown in Fig. '7. This part of my invention is the combination, with the chain D, of Vtwo pairs of wheels CZ d and cl d', one of each pair being within the chain and the other of each pair without the chain, thereby giving the chain the inward curves at the shank, as plainly shown in Fig. 7. I also have found that in lieu of the single wheel heretofore used at the toe and at the heel a pair of wheels d', arranged as shown in Fig. 7, are desirable. The extra wheel between the toe-wheels and shank-wheels and the second eXtra wheel between the heel-wheels and shank-wheels (shown in Fig. 7) are also desirable, as they give smoothness to the motion of the knife-holder and allow widelydifferent sizes and styles of patterns to be used with the same chain. I'Ieretofore in devices of this class the chain required adjustment in length for the extreme sizes; but with my improved device the only ad justment is to shorten the arm f2 slightly for the largest sizes of soles. This is `mainly due to the inward curves of the chain at the shank.

In cutting certain kinds ot' material, and when the chain is driven in a direction to cause a pull4 on (and not a thrust) an arm f2, the bevel of the knife tends to cause its edge to hug the pattern; but this initself is not sufficient in most cases, and for that reason a spring should be used tending to shut arms f and f together; but this spring is objectionable if constantly acting, the reason that it becomes too tense at the heel and toe if made tense enough at the shank, and although this defect could bereadily remedied,

yet it is simpler and better to use a guideledge as on the pattern and a guide-roller a on the knife-block, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. This also constitutes one feature of my invention, and is of considerable value in giving an easy travel of the knife-block about the pattern, while insuring proper contact between the knife and the perimeter of the pattern. Moreover, it enables me to move the chain in a direction to give a thrust (and not a pull) onarm f2, which is practically essential in cutting soles from sheet-rubber or other soft material.

As thel patterns vary somewhat so far as concerns the distance between the force of ledge as and the cutting-edge of the knife, I make the guide a9 adjustable by mounting it upon a stud, which is fast to the swing-frame 7a2, pivoted to the knife-block K, and adjustable by the set-screw 7a3, as clearly shown in Figs. l., 3, 4, and 5.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The stock is placed upon the table B, and the form a then forced down upon it and held there with the knife 7c, passing through the stock and close to the edge of the patternplate ct. The machine is then set in motion, (by a clutch motion or in any other convenientway,) and theknife-holderarmsjf', and f2 thereby caused to travel in a closed path by the motion of chain I). This causes knife 7c to travel about form d, following all the sinuosities of form (t, for the guide-roller a, acting with the guide-ridge as, causes the knife to remain close to the edge of pattern a.

lVhat I claim as my invention isl. In a machine for cutting soles and the like, a knife-block, in combination with three arms ffj`2 and a driving-chain, the outer arm being connected with the driving-chain and the inner arm revolving about a fixed axis, all substantially as described.

2. In combination, a knife-block, a pattern provided with a guide-ledge as, a guide-roll carried by the knife-block, arms ff f2, and a driving-chain, all substantially as described.

3. In a machine for cutting soles and the like, a knife and a lengthwise-driven chain, in combination with two pairs of wheels near the shank, one of each pair being within and one of each pair without the driven chain and giving the shank curves, substantially as described.

4t. In a machine for cutting soles and the like, form a, auxiliary stud af", and spring al, in combination with main stud Aand a knifeholder carried by main stud A to permit the clamping-surface of form a to vary as the thickness of the stock varies with relation to the knife carried by the knifeholder, subf, stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALLISON M. STICKNEY.

lVitnesses: t

J. E. MAYNADIER, EDWARD S. BEACH.

IOO 

